pped
a fold over at the bottom and pulled on his boot. Then he strode out
toward the promontory. Half-way there he encountered Anson tramping
back.

"Beasley's comin' one way an' Shady's comin' another. We'll be off this
hot point of rock by noon," said the outlaw leader.

Riggs went on to the promontory to look for himself.

"Where's the girl?" demanded Anson, in surprise, when he got back to the
camp.

"Wal, she's walkin' 'round between heah an' Pine," drawled Wilson.

"Jim, you let her loose?"

"Shore I did. She's been hawg-tied all the time. An' she said she'd not
run off. I'd take thet girl's word even to a sheep-thief."

"A-huh. So would I, for all of thet. But, Jim, somethin's workin' in
you. Ain't you sort of rememberin' a time when you was young--an' mebbe
knowed pretty kids like this one?"

"Wal, if I am it 'll shore turn out bad fer somebody."

Anson gave him a surprised stare and suddenly lost the bantering tone.

"A-huh! So thet's how it's workin'," he replied, and flung himself down
in the shade.

Young Burt made his appearance then, wiping his sallow face. His
deep-set, hungry eyes, upon which his comrades set such store, roved
around the camp.

"Whar's the gurl?" he queried.

"Jim let her go out fer a stroll," replied Anson.

"I seen Jim was gittin' softy over her. Haw! Haw! Haw!"

But Snake Anson did not crack a smile. The atmosphere appeared not to be
congenial for jokes, a fact Burt rather suddenly divined. Riggs and Moze
returned from the promontory, the latter reporting that Shady Jones was
riding up close. Then the girl walked slowly into sight and approached
to find a seat within ten yards of the group. They waited in silence
until the expected horseman rode up with water-bottles slung on both
sides of his saddle. His advent was welcome. All the men were thirsty.
Wilson took water to the girl before drinking himself.

"Thet's an all-fired hot ride fer water," declared the outlaw Shady, who
somehow fitted his name in color and impression. "An', boss, if it's the
same to you I won't take it ag'in."

"Cheer up, Shady. We'll be rustlin' back in the mountains before
sundown," said Anson.

"Hang me if that ain't the cheerfulest news I've hed in some days. Hey,
Moze?"

The black-faced Moze nodded his shaggy head.

"I'm sick an' sore of this deal," broke out Burt, evidently encouraged
by his elders. "Ever since last fall we've been hangin' 'round--till
jest lately freezin' in ca